Discovery of what is believed to be the oldest brewery in Abydos

The joint Egyptian-American archaeological mission, headed by Dr Matthew Adams of New York University, and Dr Deborah Fishak of Princeton University, working in North Abydos, Sohag Governorate, has uncovered what is believed to be the oldest high-production brewery in the world.

Dr Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the factory is likely to date back to the era of King Narmer and that it consists of eight large sectors with an area of ​​20 m length x 2.5 m width x 0.4 m depth, which was used as units for beer production, as each sector contained There are about 40 earthenware ponds arranged in two rows to heat the mixture of grains and water. Each basin is held in place by supports made of clay and placed vertically in the form of rings.

Dr Matthew Adams, head of the mission, indicated that studies have proven that the factory was producing about 22,400 litres of beer at a time, and it may have been built in this place specifically to supply the royal rituals that were taking place inside the funeral facilities of the first kings of Egypt. Evidence for the use of beer in sacrificial rites was found during excavations in these facilities.

It is worth noting that several British archaeologists uncovered this plant at the beginning of the twentieth century, and its location was not precisely determined. The current expedition was able to re-locate and uncover it and its contents.